Home Is Where The Heart Is (Kaelyn/open)

[Brandy Berry]

Brandy waited for Kaelyn to pull up behind her, a soft smile on her lips when Kaelyn parked her car and shyly joined her. Kaelyn looked like she held a lot of secrets, and something obviously happened to her that left her wounded. Brandy wasn't the type to prod in on anybody's business, but if the girl ever wanted to talk to her she would more than be happy to let Kaelyn open up to her.

Walking up to the house she hadn't seen in a couple of days, she unlocked the door and reached behind her to hand Kaelyn Sam's set of keys. The door opened, the rays from the sun had flooded the modest duplex in a warm light.

It wasn't overly exciting, already furnished with the basic necessity and the fridge was full. Brandy stepped inside and leaned against the kitchen counter.

"Don't mind the stuffiness. I hope you don't mind sleeping on the couch, it is only a one bedroom but you are welcome to use the bed when I'm not home. Um, there is a washer and dryer by the bathroom and the fridge is full. I don't have cable yet, but there are plenty of movies to watch when you are bored."

Brandy began to walk around the humble home, she did feel bad about making her sleep on the couch but at least it was better than the back seat of her car. She led Kaelyn around the place - pointing out where everything was like the linen closet, the kitchen, the pots and the pans, and the bathroom.

"Did you um.. maybe have any questions?"

[Kaelyn Halifax]

Kaelyn stepped through the door way after Brandy with a mixture of anticipation and hesitancy. She spent most of her waking hours feeling numbed to the world, but now it was like a small part of her was coming back. Like having all those awkward pins and needles tease at your foot before you get full control back. It was small, but it was more than she could ever hope for.

It was small, quaint, and to Kaelyn it looked like heaven compared to her previous hell. Daylight was welcomed within the walls of this home and freedom was given. It was a veritable paradise.

"Don't mind the stuffiness. I hope you don't mind sleeping on the couch, it is only a one bedroom but you are welcome to use the bed when I'm not home. Um, there is a washer and dryer by the bathroom and the fridge is full. I don't have cable yet, but there are plenty of movies to watch when you are bored."

"Oh, I'm honestly more used to sleeping on the floor," Kaelyn admitted in her excitement without thinking, "and the bed is just out of the question. You've got a wonderful place here, Bran---I mean, BB."

As Brandy showed her around the house that tingling sensation began to grow. There were plenty of things that Kaelyn had to worry about, but having a place to stay seemed to make it all a little easier to withstand.

"Did you um.. maybe have any questions?"

"Yes, actually. Would you prefer me to be home at a certain time? I mean, I know I won't be coming in at all hours of the night, so I want to be sure not to disturb. Also, is there anything you'd specifically like me to do...? This will all take a lot of adjusting on my part, but I'm willing to try."

[Brandy Berry]

"Oh, I'm honestly more used to sleeping on the floor, and the bed is just out of the question. You've got a wonderful place here, Bran---I mean, BB."

Brandy looked at Kaelyn and she couldn't help to laugh, sleeping on the floor? Oh Brandy would not have any of that! She also heard Kaelyn struggle with her name, and she realized she never did quite explain to Kaelyn why people called her BB.. or did she? Call it a short term memory.

"Kae, honestly, if I see you sleeping on the floor I'm going to be picking you up and putting you on the couch. Your so tiny, I bet I could throw you over my shoulder with ease! And you can call me anything you want - BB, or Brandy. I only used BB to avoid an ex boyfriend and he is gone now so either one is fine"

Brandy wasn't kidding around either, she would - quite literally - pick the woman up and put her on the couch if she needed to. Kaelyn didn't seem quite as comfortable, but.. she did seem to want to be more comfortable. That in itself was enough to make Brandy feel a little better.

"Yes, actually. Would you prefer me to be home at a certain time? I mean, I know I won't be coming in at all hours of the night, so I want to be sure not to disturb. Also, is there anything you'd specifically like me to do...? This will all take a lot of adjusting on my part, but I'm willing to try."

"Uh.. of course not. I will be inclined to worry of course if I'm home and you don't come home at all. Looking after friend's and all. As far as what I would like you to do.. um, I don't know.. dust maybe? I really hate doing dishes so I would love you if you didn't mind doing them. And of course, make sure no weirdos try to come by when I'm in Dallas"

Not that Brandy knew any weirdos, but as she thought about it she took a seat on one of the kitchen chairs. Her elbow rested on the table, and she pivoted her body toward Kaelyn.

"Kaelyn, I don't mean to pry. But you seem so.. sad. Sad and defeated. Is there anything you need to talk about? I promise whatever you have to say won't go past these four walls. I won't even tell Sam. Cause you seemed to be really.. uncomfortable around him."

[Kaelyn Halifax]

"Kae, honestly, if I see you sleeping on the floor I'm going to be picking you up and putting you on the couch. Your so tiny, I bet I could throw you over my shoulder with ease! And you can call me anything you want - BB, or Brandy. I only used BB to avoid an ex boyfriend and he is gone now so either one is fine"

Kaelyn slightly took a step back from the threat of couch-ing with the added waving of her arms to ward off such actions. "It took me quite a while to get used to the backseat of the Impala... I'll try it out eventually, but the floor can be a start, okay?" On top the floor being the most familiar bed-type surface Kaelyn was comfortable with, she didn't know just how bad her night terrors could get. She didn't want to risk falling off the couch just to break something or claw it all to pieces. The floor was the safest bet.

"...and BB for the ex-boyfriend?" Kaelyn gave momentary pause. "That seems odd, but alright. I actually do like calling you Brandy. Even if all the others prefer BB."

"Uh.. of course not. I will be inclined to worry of course if I'm home and you don't come home at all. Looking after friend's and all. As far as what I would like you to do.. um, I don't know.. dust maybe? I really hate doing dishes so I would love you if you didn't mind doing them. And of course, make sure no weirdos try to come by when I'm in Dallas"

"Of course I'd let you know if I was going to be out all...night..." Kaelyn's thoughts suddenly turned to exactly what day it was and what the night might hold in store. "Oh, no, it's going to be a full moon tonight, isn't it?", she whispered worriedly. It'd be the first night since her escape that she would be allowed to shift outside...and the last time she had done that the consequences had been disastrous. "I can't believe I'm going to have to miss my own move-in night. I'm sorry! I'll wash as many dishes as I can and I'll dust everywhere!"

"Kaelyn, I don't mean to pry. But you seem so.. sad. Sad and defeated. Is there anything you need to talk about? I promise whatever you have to say won't go past these four walls. I won't even tell Sam. Cause you seemed to be really.. uncomfortable around him."

That made Kaelyn's apology stop dead in its tracks. Her eyes clouded over for a moment as memories she wished would stay buried flashed across her mind's eye. She didn't know what she could say. Kaelyn knew her body language was obvious, but the explanation wasn't simple at all.

"I...", she struggled to find her words, "I was careless and someone used it against me. Over and over and over again. Maybe I can tell you someday, but I'm too scared of everything right now. Even my own d**n shadow..."

[Brandy Berry]

"It took me quite a while to get used to the backseat of the Impala... I'll try it out eventually, but the floor can be a start, okay?"

"Oh. Your actually serious about the floor? I thought you were just being silly! Certainly, sleep where you want - wherever you are comfortable. Except with me, cause I kick in my sleep"

Brandy, of course, added that little tidbit as a joke. She figured it might at least, bring sort of a smile to Kaelyn's face? It was important that her guest be comfortable, at least in her mind. After all, the favor was repaid to her in kind by Sam giving her this place.

"...and BB for the ex-boyfriend? That seems odd, but alright. I actually do like calling you Brandy. Even if all the others prefer BB."

"Oh. It was just, I thought if people called me BB I would be.. safer? Like I said, that chapter in my life is over now but if you like calling me Brandy that is alright. I kind of like it, you know, being my name at all"

"Of course I'd let you know if I was going to be out all...night...Oh, no, it's going to be a full moon tonight, isn't it?"

Brandy nodded, it was the night of the full moon. She knew, because her 'witchy senses' had been tingling for the last few nights.

"Yeah it is. I'm actually going to be gone all night. The full moon is when my magic is at its strongest and its the perfect opportunity to strengthen my - "

Oh $hit. She did it again. Maybe Sam should of come with them, he could of stopped her before she even mentioned magic. But when she was comfortable with someone, she tended to just open her mouth and everything rolled out of it.

"... magic. Eh.. alright, my secret is out. Sam is always giving me heck! And rightfully to! Well, you would of found out eventually. You see, I'm a witch. But a good witch, I promise! I specialize in spells like.. locater spells, um... protection spells and the like.. and oh brother, I hope I'm not totally freaking you out right now!"

And.. Kaelyn just met Brandy's other side. Her tendency to ramble when she got nervous. And ramble she did, at a mile a minute. Even when Kaelyn mentioned she was scared of her own shadow, Brandy had held up a finger to make a point.

"Do you think a protection spell would help you feel more at ease?"

Well hell, the witch thing was already in the open, might as well offer it to help her feel at ease!

[Kaelyn Halifax]

"Oh. Your actually serious about the floor? I thought you were just being silly! Certainly, sleep where you want - wherever you are comfortable. Except with me, cause I kick in my sleep"

"Oh," Kaelyn nodded knowingly, "I do much worse in my sleep, so I'm sure you are quite the pleasant bed mate." Kaelyn could be thick at times when it came to telling when people were simply joking around. One of her many current flaws.

"Oh. It was just, I thought if people called me BB I would be.. safer? Like I said, that chapter in my life is over now but if you like calling me Brandy that is alright. I kind of like it, you know, being my name at all"

"Then Brandy it is." Kaelyn didn't bother to prod into why it had been safer, it was best to stick with the information that Brandy was fine now and further divulging might be left for another day.

"Yeah it is. I'm actually going to be gone all night. The full moon is when my magic is at its strongest and its the perfect opportunity to strengthen my - "

"M...magic...?" Wait, Brandy couldn't possibly be...

"... magic. Eh.. alright, my secret is out. Sam is always giving me heck! And rightfully to! Well, you would of found out eventually. You see, I'm a witch. But a good witch, I promise! I specialize in spells like.. locater spells, um... protection spells and the like.. and oh brother, I hope I'm not totally freaking you out right now!"

...okay, she is. Kaelyn's head became cocked to the side as all the information began to pile up in her head. Her parents had never really ever mentioned the existence of witches, but Kaelyn had always assumed that they could be real. If were-rabbits could exist, why not witches? Also, Kaelyn was more than grateful for dodging the bullet of even attempting to explain what she'd been through.

She would have ended up a sobbing mess and it would not have ended well.

"Do you think a protection spell would help you feel more at ease?"

Since Brandy had shared what was obviously a big secret, Kaelyn felt it was only right to respond in kind. "Okay, first off, the witch thing is interesting and no I am not freaking out. I can't imagine you being evil... So, I'm not really worried about all that. Secondly, a protection spell can't help me with my problems, but it was kind enough for you to offer."

"Um, since we're sharing, I'm a were-rabbit. So, um, there...you go? Seems like we're both going to be busy tonight."

[Brandy Berry]

Well, the fact that Kaelyn was not freaking out right now was probably a good sign. Brandy had got everything out in the open, about herself anyway - Brandy was good at keeping secrets when they weren't "her" secrets to tell.

She was keen on watching Kaelyn's reactions. The way she wanted to shield herself or the way she turned to the side when she was shy about something. Or when she took her joke about sleeping in her bed with her seriously. Brandy could only smile at the girl, she liked her and didn't feel threatened by her. Sam really needed to start trusting people more..

"Okay, first off, the witch thing is interesting and no I am not freaking out. I can't imagine you being evil... So, I'm not really worried about all that. Secondly, a protection spell can't help me with my problems, but it was kind enough for you to offer."

"Well I thought, in case someone was after you. I really want you to feel safe here. And I'm glad your comfortable with me being a witch, it is not exactly something I can hide. Especially if your going to be staying with me for a couple of days.

"Um, since we're sharing, I'm a were-rabbit. So, um, there...you go? Seems like we're both going to be busy tonight."

Oh! Wait what? A were-rabbit? Well wasn't that just the - craziest thing ever! And to tell her so quickly, she didn't learn about Sam's secret till just recently and Summer's secret she kind of stumbled upon by accident. Oh, Brandy definitely needed to learn more about this!

"A were-rabbit? Like Bunnicula? That adorable little bunny vampire with fangs who would suck the $hit out of carrots? That's adorable!"

And oh that look of child-like glee on her face, she was certain she still had the books kicking around somewhere!

[Kaelyn Halifax]

"Well I thought, in case someone was after you. I really want you to feel safe here. And I'm glad your comfortable with me being a witch, it is not exactly something I can hide. Especially if your going to be staying with me for a couple of days.

"I don't think anyone is after me," Kaelyn pondered seriously,"at least, not the person who did things to me. He isn't a problem anymore. As for you being a witch, I don't see why I would mind. It'd be nice to see what you could do... I'm guessing you are not at all like the witches they portray in movies. You're much less green, to boot."

"A were-rabbit? Like Bunnicula? That adorable little bunny vampire with fangs who would suck the $hit out of carrots? That's adorable!"

At that comment, the first true smile lit up Kaelyn's face. It'd been due for more than a year and allowed the first sliver of the old Kaelyn show through. "I used to wonder all the time when I was younger that if a vampire tried to change me...I'd become a real-life Bunnicula. I imagined terrorizing the neighborhood grocery stores and farmer's markets."

"But," the smile quickly vanishing as soon as it appeared,"it is nowhere near as cool. I just turn into a rabbit and hop around. Well, larger than average rabbit. I do get a white coat in the winter... I always liked that."

[Brandy Berry]

"I don't think anyone is after me,"

Brandy let out a sigh of relief, she knew what it was like having someone after you. Especially when them being after you was interfering in your love life. She was glad it was over, but she knew she would of been miserable with Derek even if she had never met Sam. Sometimes, two people just weren't meant to be together.

"at least, not the person who did things to me. He isn't a problem anymore. As for you being a witch, I don't see why I would mind. It'd be nice to see what you could do... I'm guessing you are not at all like the witches they portray in movies. You're much less green, to boot."

".. Did things to you?"

Brandy was concerned by this, Kaelyn probably didn't notice but her body language screamed that whatever she was talking about was bad. It was hard to focus on anything else Kaelyn had said when the thought of someone hurting her had come to Brandy's mind. Even the smile, was hard to return as Kaelyn talked about a vampire biting her and then her turning into the <real> Bunnicula. Hell, in this world Brandy wouldn't be surprised if that was actually possible!

There was still something that was bugging Brandy, and she had to get it out or else it would surely bother her all night.

"Is that why your so scared Kaelyn, because of what was done to you? I'm so sorry Kaelyn, for whatever happened to you."

It was hard to continue, but she wanted to help Kaelyn work through her problems. How could she do that, without overstepping her boundaries?

"Is there anything I could do for you? A spell to help you forget maybe? To help you work through your pain? Even non-magical if you so desire.. I hate to see you constantly be reminded of something so obviously painful"

[Kaelyn Halifax]

".. Did things to you?"

Kaelyn instantly froze up as she realized she'd said too much. She inwardly cursed at herself for not censoring her words even if she was just being chatty with her new roommate. Oh, Brandy would probably figure out something was wrong with her if she simply spent the night under the same roof. No matter the distance she put between herself and where she'd been, the night terrors never lessened in strength.

"I'm sorry...it slipped out please ignore what I--"

"Is that why your so scared Kaelyn, because of what was done to you? I'm so sorry Kaelyn, for whatever happened to you."

"...said," Kaelyn whispered brokenly. So much for dodging the bullet earlier. "I said I was careless earlier. After what happened, I deserved some of it anyways..." Too many lives lost because of her idiotic loose tongue.

"Is there anything I could do for you? A spell to help you forget maybe? To help you work through your pain? Even non-magical if you so desire.. I hate to see you constantly be reminded of something so obviously painful"

"No," Kaelyn's voice rose sharply at the idea of being made to forget,"I'd...I'd love to forget, but it wouldn't be right. I have to be reminded. I...just have to. Anyways, even if I magically forgot, there are too many scars... It wouldn't work."

Supernatural healing could do only so much. It had started to fail after her strength had left her, after the starvation had set in, and there was no way her body could have kept up with the abuse.

[Brandy Berry]

"I'm sorry...it slipped out please ignore what I--"


Said to much? Brandy was the prodigy of "saying too much." And doing too much, according to Sam, but if only he realized how much he actually done for others he would smack himself for that remark.

"...said, I said I was careless earlier. After what happened, I deserved some of it anyways..."

Deserved some of it? Some of what?! Brandy was actually angry with those words. What could this girl of done that she ended up so defeated? Brandy couldn't really control her actions, she was already off the chair and in front of Kaelyn - her face full of emotions as her slender digits reached gently for both of Kaelyn's arms.

"No. No, no no Kaelyn! Nobody, nobody deserves when something bad happens to them. People make mistakes, things happen - I don't care if you, if you stole something or if you blame yourself for people getting hurt because you said too much. Your not a bad person Kaelyn so stop punishing yourself because you feel like you are. I've looked into the eyes of people with dark hearts - and your heart isn't. Your just terribly abused and guilt ridden, but you don't deserve any of it"

Brandy was heart broken when she looked into Kaelyn's eyes, a soft sigh leaving her lips as she turned away from her. She understood that Kaelyn didn't want magic to take her bad memories away, but to have to remind yourself of that pain - Brandy didn't understand that at all.

"What you need, is healing Kaelyn. I know I told you I didn't want to pry, but now I want to know what happened to you. What do you keep on punishing yourself for?"

[Kaelyn Halifax]

"No. No, no no Kaelyn! Nobody, nobody deserves when something bad happens to them. People make mistakes, things happen - I don't care if you, if you stole something or if you blame yourself for people getting hurt because you said too much. Your not a bad person Kaelyn so stop punishing yourself because you feel like you are. I've looked into the eyes of people with dark hearts - and your heart isn't. Your just terribly abused and guilt ridden, but you don't deserve any of it"

It was always a struggle between what the brain knows is the right way to go about things, but the heart interferes and starts mucking up the whole 'rationality' of any situation. Kaelyn had tried, in the beginning, to convince herself that she was a decent person and she didn't deserve what happened to her. Then time passed, hope faded away, and she began to wonder if it was even true.

Brandy's words were powerful and compelling, but it was always so much easier to say than to do.

"What you need, is healing Kaelyn. I know I told you I didn't want to pry, but now I want to know what happened to you. What do you keep on punishing yourself for?"

Kaelyn's eyes were glued firmly to the ground, anywhere but Brandy's face in fear of what she might see written there. Small tremors sent her arms shaking as her mind started to take her back to that place and she wrapped them around her waist to try and make them stop. She'd told no one of what had happened. Never given any stranger the chance to know her more than a few minutes and then she'd be on the road.

"I..." Kaelyn's voice was softer now, barely above a whisper,"I'd just started at a new school. I didn't know the area and I picked a spot that seemed safe to change during the first full moon...but I was wrong. I don't know how I missed all the cameras, but I came back to the same place the next month, changed, and then it felt like I'd been stung...everything went black."

Kaelyn closed her eyes briefly, trying to calm her breathing to keep her from hyperventilating, and when she opened them she was back. The carpet floor had been replaced by a padded floor and manacles were locked tight around her ankles. It's not real! It can't be!

"Oh, god," she whimpered as she felt herself slipping, but she fought to go on,"I woke up in a padded cell. I was naked and...chained to the wall... Then he came to see me and told me that he'd seen what I was and that I was a monster. He just beat me at first. Wanted to know what other monsters there were and I didn't tell him. Then he stopped feeding me...and then he started trying knives, hot pokers....cattle prods... I started to talk then."

Kaelyn's head began to feel light, finding it harder and harder to draw in a sufficient amount of oxygen and she felt herself beginning to sway. "H-He started hunting them. I c-can't remember how many shifters he killed, but he'd show me their heads. I...don't know why he kept me alive! How many...? How..." Kaelyn crumpled to the floor as her legs gave out and words began to fail her. Panic was setting in and she couldn't reign in her fear anymore.

"What if it happens again?! I'm afraid...! If I change and it all happens again... I can't! I don't want to become a monster again! I can't!"

[Brandy Berry]

"I..."

Brandy sat down again, this time on the arm of the sofa as she folded her hands neatly onto her lap. This wasn't easy for Kaelyn, Brandy could tell that - and she felt bad for having her remember such terrible things.

On the other hand, it might of been good for Kaelyn to tell her, so that she could begin the first step to healing again - especially if Brandy was the first one she had even told. Still, the way Kaelyn had begun to tell the story..

.. had pulled Brandy right in there with her.

,"I'd just started at a new school. I didn't know the area and I picked a spot that seemed safe to change during the first full moon...but I was wrong. I don't know how I missed all the cameras, but I came back to the same place the next month, changed, and then it felt like I'd been stung...everything went black."


Brandy could feel her heart racing, her caramel brown hues were wide with concern to the point that she found herself wrapping her arms around her stomach. Kaelyn was trembling, and that was the only moment Brandy was able to pull off the cloth blanket on the couch and wrap it around Kaelyn's shoulders.

"I woke up in a padded cell. I was naked and...chained to the wall... Then he came to see me and told me that he'd seen what I was and that I was a monster. He just beat me at first. Wanted to know what other monsters there were and I didn't tell him. Then he stopped feeding me...and then he started trying knives, hot pokers....cattle prods... I started to talk then."

What kind of monster would do that to someone? No wonder Kaelyn was so scared.. no wonder she was intimidated around Sam - Sam was a shifter like her! Now Brandy was worried about Sam. What if this man was still lurking around? What if he followed Kaelyn and even if he didn't.. Kaelyn would never be able to trust anyone again.

Oh, that was anger in her eyes now. She couldn't believe someone would even have the bones to do that to another living creature. And the fact that Kaelyn blamed herself.. it was..

"H-He started hunting them. I c-can't remember how many shifters he killed, but he'd show me their heads. I...don't know why he kept me alive! How many...? How..."

Brandy was speechless. She really didn't think human beings were capable of such things. She had her hand in her pocket, toying with her cellphone and eager to call Sam. Sam would know how to comfort Kaelyn wouldn't he? It felt like a world of responsibility was on her shoulders now and she didn't know if she could comfort Kaelyn on her own.

"What if it happens again?! I'm afraid...! If I change and it all happens again... I can't! I don't want to become a monster again! I can't!"

"But it wasn't your fault! Kaelyn, you have to know it wasn't your fault! You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and you survived. It took incredible strength to survive an ordeal like that and not turn into a cold, murdering @sshole yourself. Is.. is this man still around... Because if he is, he has come to the wrong town."

Brandy meant those last words. She had friends, and Sam had friends, a guy like that wouldn't last long in Bon Temps - Brandy would make sure of that. In her own thoughts she was beside Kaelyn, and wrapping her arms around to try and comfort her. At least, at least Brandy could be a shoulder to cry on..

"Maybe.. maybe if you talked to Sam.. maybe he can help. He is the one I always turn to, maybe he can help you with your fears... there is nobody I trust more than him.

She didn't want to tell Kaelyn that Sam was a shifter, even if part of her knew Kaelyn already knew. It explained why Kaelyn was so nervous around him..

".. he could be here at any moment..."

The truth was, after this.. Brandy needed him too.

[Kaelyn Halifax]

"But it wasn't your fault! Kaelyn, you have to know it wasn't your fault! You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and you survived. It took incredible strength to survive an ordeal like that and not turn into a cold, murdering @sshole yourself. Is.. is this man still around... Because if he is, he has come to the wrong town."

"N-No," Kaelyn hiccuped through the tears as she pulled the blanket Brandy had given her tight around her body. She just felt so cold... "He got hurt trying to kill someone. He died outside of my cell knowing I couldn't get out... I don't remember how I escaped. I just know I burned it all down."

"Maybe.. maybe if you talked to Sam.. maybe he can help. He is the one I always turn to, maybe he can help you with your fears... there is nobody I trust more than him.

This caused Kaelyn to make eye contact for the first time since she'd began her confession. Fear was rampant in her gaze as she turned her attention fully on her. "You can't! He'll...he'll know I betrayed them all! If any shifters knew what I did... I shouldn't have broken. I should have been stronger..."

".. he could be here at any moment..."

"Please don't," she whimpered,"...if any shifter knew... I don't know what would happen."

[Brandy Berry]

"N-No, He got hurt trying to kill someone. He died outside of my cell knowing I couldn't get out... I don't remember how I escaped. I just know I burned it all down."

Good. Brandy was actually glad that little f*cker got what he deserved. Because she couldn't, in good conscience, let someone go unpunished after the kind of sins they had committed.

However, she was dishearten when she saw Kaelyn's immediate reaction to her calling Sam.

"You can't! He'll...he'll know I betrayed them all! If any shifters knew what I did... I shouldn't have broken. I should have been stronger..."

"Kaelyn... Sam would never - ever judge you for what you did. If anybody can help you to realize what you did was not your fault - it is him."

"Please don't,...if any shifter knew... I don't know what would happen."

"I can't, with any good intentions, let you go through this alone. Especially when I can only do so much. Please Kaelyn, I really think talking to Sam will help you. You can trust Sam.. I promise. He can understand and relate to you more than anybody can. Just.. give him a chance will you? Please?"

Brandy already had her cellphone out - the little collie charm with the broken leg was swinging back and forth. She knew Sam was only one button away, she knew that he would come.. and make things all better again.